air-traffic control

[ air-traf-ik ]

noun

1. a government service that facilitates the safe and orderly movement of aircraft within and between airports by receiving and processing data from radar and devices that monitor local weather conditions and by maintaining radio contact with pilots.

air-traffic control

noun

1. an organization that determines the altitude, speed, and direction at which planes fly in a given area, giving instructions to pilots by radio

Derived Forms

• air-traffic controller, noun

Other Words From

• air-traffic controller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of air-traffic control¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Set aside the preposterous contentions that “government agencies are no different” from corporations, or that mass-eliminating people by SSN would not cripple necessary everyday government functions like air traffic control and emergency relief and weather monitoring, even after screening them for constitutional knowledge or something.

From Slate

The air traffic control system had previously processed more than 15 million flight plans without the scenario being seen.

From BBC

More than 700,000 passengers suffered cancellations and delays in August 2023 due to the computer shutdown at NATS, the UK's air traffic control service.

From BBC

Air traffic control systems handling the flight were confused by a duplicate code - DVL - representing both Deauville in France and Devil's Lake in North Dakota, USA.

From BBC

Many countries require that aircraft publicly broadcast their location in order to coordinate air traffic control, which has allowed companies like FlightAware and private citizens to report the locations of specific planes — and scientists to analyze their emissions.

From Los Angeles Times